Sev289
22lr
I heard about mini 14s being inaccurate, but what is the general accuracy I should expect as a pre-580 series mini 14?
Mini 14 inaccuracy
- Thread starter Sev289
- Start date
BDinPutnam
.475 A&M Magnum
Inside a paper plate at 100 yards.
kev74
20×102mm Vulcan
With handloads, I've gotten about 2 MOA out of my circa 1986 Mini-14. Stock except for a trigger job (by me).
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
what is it now .. 500 to 800 or more for upgrades and its close to 1 MOA 
Vapor
.308 Win
EDIT: I see the pre-580 now! My bad. It was early, and the coffee vetch hadn't kicked in yet.
ON A PRE-580...I HAVE NO IDEA. MY GUESS WOULD BE BAD.
I had several of the newer 580 series before a tragic boat fire took them all from me.
It's internet non sense, like ak47 is always reliable, or ar15 always jams. It's mostly because people feed them garbage 55 grain .223 loads and then complain the rifle is 3-4 moa.
Guess what, my Wilson 18 wylde hbar ar is only 3-4 moa with shit ammo. Its 0.5 moa with 75 grain match.
My 580s were 1.5 -3 moa depending on ammo and what sighting system you're using. Keep in mind I was getting the tighter groups with a luepold vx2 2-7 mounted with Warne rings. Matching any non free float ar I had for accuracy. More accurate than any sks or non russian ak I ever had. Deff about the same accuracy level as a saiga.
As far as a clean range day, just as reliable as anything. Dont expect it to be a mud warrior with an open action. Treat it as a baby Garand.
ON A PRE-580...I HAVE NO IDEA. MY GUESS WOULD BE BAD.
I had several of the newer 580 series before a tragic boat fire took them all from me.
It's internet non sense, like ak47 is always reliable, or ar15 always jams. It's mostly because people feed them garbage 55 grain .223 loads and then complain the rifle is 3-4 moa.
Guess what, my Wilson 18 wylde hbar ar is only 3-4 moa with shit ammo. Its 0.5 moa with 75 grain match.
My 580s were 1.5 -3 moa depending on ammo and what sighting system you're using. Keep in mind I was getting the tighter groups with a luepold vx2 2-7 mounted with Warne rings. Matching any non free float ar I had for accuracy. More accurate than any sks or non russian ak I ever had. Deff about the same accuracy level as a saiga.
As far as a clean range day, just as reliable as anything. Dont expect it to be a mud warrior with an open action. Treat it as a baby Garand.
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@thewheels
.308 Win
^^^This^^^
And I'd say for the pre 580 model, a strut and/or slower firing to keep the barrel from heating up.
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oc shooter
.223 Rem
mine is fairly new it's 2 to 3 inches at a 100 yrds more than sufficient for what it is it's fun to shoot and utterly reliable and that's all I ask of it
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
People are so obsessed with MOA. A 4 MOA rifle will hit man sized targets at 300 yards. You’ll probably end up putting a 2 MOA optic on it anyway.
@thewheels
.308 Win
IMO, MOA usually only matters for bench rest and/or prairie dogs & ground hogs
Robin
.475 A&M Magnum
Thats pretty much what I get, a bit tighter on a good day, but like you said, its fun to shoot, and at 100 yds. those milk jugs don't stand a chance!
Vapor
.308 Win
Off hand accuracy will be different.
Standing, I could hold about 4 inches at 100. Some of it will also greatly depend on the sighting equipment chosen.
I generally speaking prefer traditional scopes to say, red dots or crazy busy accss stuff. It's just preferable to me. I find red dots to not be that much faster and vastly inferior for precision/hunting. I find weird, cluttered reticles only make quick shots more difficult and give me less view of the target.
Standing, I could hold about 4 inches at 100. Some of it will also greatly depend on the sighting equipment chosen.
I generally speaking prefer traditional scopes to say, red dots or crazy busy accss stuff. It's just preferable to me. I find red dots to not be that much faster and vastly inferior for precision/hunting. I find weird, cluttered reticles only make quick shots more difficult and give me less view of the target.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Pre 580 are going to be the more vulnerable to accuracy changes as the original mini was built to be limited in accuracy to start
with just because of the minor diameter in such critical area to provision for the gas block.
Plus, like the AK, the entire carrier group is slightly off center, not by much, but it is off center.
However I would not be too worried about not having more inherent accuracy since this is a great and reliable ranch rifle
and enough to put food on the table, pop a coyote or provide defense at the ranges that most people shoot that are within
100 yards anyway. 200 or 300 yards groups with open iron sights and expect any reasonable groupings is not realistic because it is not
made or needed for that. It is suppose to be a handy reliable rifle, not something for competition or to go to war with.
Minute of dinner plate is a good analogy. Perhaps not a large paper plate but a small desert one. 2 to 3 moa is good enough.
We are talking about regular use, repeatable practical accuracy and not internet cherry picked groups.
If one wants more, there are several levels of fixes all involved different cost and complexity.
1- The quick fix for the mini is to brace the barrel with an additional rod and clamp so we can reduce crazy harmonics as we shoot. Some call it "stabilizer" or "harmonics" device. whatever it is, is just additional support at reasonable cost but it does not fix the main issue.
2- The Bull barrel offered by some aftermarket alone is useless because it will do nothing to correct the main problem with the minor diameter and the original gas block. It might actually make it worse. Skip this option unless you go with the entire barrel/block group replacement.
3- If one really wants to improve the mini then better contact Accuracy systems and orders a gas block of section .750" and a new barrel
to go with it and be done.
Everything one needs to learn about how to make the mini more accurate is here...
www.mini14gasblock.com
But with all that said be careful with spending a lot of money in a platform, that like the M1A, it was not really conceived to be
consistent repeatable accuracy no matter how much money we invest in those rifles. (I have been there)
Instead choose a platform that is more suitable for achieving accuracy if that is what is needed that I am suspecting for the average use
is not needed.
If one wants to shoot small varmints at 500 or 600 yards then get a varmint bolt action that is what I would suggest or find out the hard way.
I know this is beyond what was asked but I hope this might help you or others.
with just because of the minor diameter in such critical area to provision for the gas block.
Plus, like the AK, the entire carrier group is slightly off center, not by much, but it is off center.
However I would not be too worried about not having more inherent accuracy since this is a great and reliable ranch rifle
and enough to put food on the table, pop a coyote or provide defense at the ranges that most people shoot that are within
100 yards anyway. 200 or 300 yards groups with open iron sights and expect any reasonable groupings is not realistic because it is not
made or needed for that. It is suppose to be a handy reliable rifle, not something for competition or to go to war with.
Minute of dinner plate is a good analogy. Perhaps not a large paper plate but a small desert one. 2 to 3 moa is good enough.
We are talking about regular use, repeatable practical accuracy and not internet cherry picked groups.
If one wants more, there are several levels of fixes all involved different cost and complexity.
1- The quick fix for the mini is to brace the barrel with an additional rod and clamp so we can reduce crazy harmonics as we shoot. Some call it "stabilizer" or "harmonics" device. whatever it is, is just additional support at reasonable cost but it does not fix the main issue.
2- The Bull barrel offered by some aftermarket alone is useless because it will do nothing to correct the main problem with the minor diameter and the original gas block. It might actually make it worse. Skip this option unless you go with the entire barrel/block group replacement.
3- If one really wants to improve the mini then better contact Accuracy systems and orders a gas block of section .750" and a new barrel
to go with it and be done.
Everything one needs to learn about how to make the mini more accurate is here...
Ruger Mini 14 30 Adjustable Non-Adjustable Gas Block Tunable Blocks Accuracy Systems Inc
Accuracy Systems new Ruger Mini gas block system will actually help your rifle shoot better by reducing the harmonics that are produced when the operating rod comes in contact with your receiver during high speed cycling of the operating rod. Accuracy Systems new Ruger Mini gas system can be...
But with all that said be careful with spending a lot of money in a platform, that like the M1A, it was not really conceived to be
consistent repeatable accuracy no matter how much money we invest in those rifles. (I have been there)
Instead choose a platform that is more suitable for achieving accuracy if that is what is needed that I am suspecting for the average use
is not needed.
If one wants to shoot small varmints at 500 or 600 yards then get a varmint bolt action that is what I would suggest or find out the hard way.
I know this is beyond what was asked but I hope this might help you or others.
Vinson57
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I got the Varmint and Target model with 2-8X 33mm Leupold and with 50 grain Black Hills Hornady V-max can hit .5 moa. Other ammo, not so good. Then another regular ranch rifle that did have this same scope, 3-4 MOA
Vapor
.308 Win
The accu struts have limited success with the 580 from reports on perfect union.
1.5-2 inched off the bench is fine. Both mine and my brothers were capable of that with better ammo.
4" 10 shot group standing on 4x power made it comfortable for me standing with standard 55 grain soft points.
They are a great option if you want a non-ar carbine in ny. I would sare say...superior in accuracy and ergos to a stock saiga, and an equal to the best sks, with a better trigger and options to mount a scope.
I'm going to start reporting my groups in mils lol
1.5-2 inched off the bench is fine. Both mine and my brothers were capable of that with better ammo.
4" 10 shot group standing on 4x power made it comfortable for me standing with standard 55 grain soft points.
They are a great option if you want a non-ar carbine in ny. I would sare say...superior in accuracy and ergos to a stock saiga, and an equal to the best sks, with a better trigger and options to mount a scope.
I'm going to start reporting my groups in mils lol
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Trigger yes.
Ergos is relative and can be adjusted.
The 5.56 Saiga is a pretty accurate for an AK and long stroke piston/gas gun. Not only that, it is super reliable.
Izhmash, Specially the 16" 308 and 5.56 (same receivers, trunions and barrels as the mil spec Izmash) have been recognized as pretty accurate and much more repeatable than average service guns, even better than the best zastavas and beryls. With service ammo expect 1.5 to 2moa like most service guns. With some quality ammo it gets closer to the 1moa than the 2moa.
The standard trigger is a quick and simple fix.
It is not a random opinion, we did a lot of testing with those.
Vapor
.308 Win
Yes, I've owned several. Shot many, including a .308 extensively.
Without investing in a conversion, the trigger is pretty bad and the transfer bar is wonky. It also takes tool working skills that many do not possess to complete a conversion.Both systems have their pulses and minuses, but my x39 versions were, at best, 1.5 inches. Not as easy to obtain those groups either, as say it was with my vepr. I'm not going to point out the other inadequacies of both systems, as I don't wish to type up a diatribe on my phone.
I'm not saying they are poor guns, but approximately equal within this postives and negatives. Mostly, a mini will be an easier proposition for someone looking for a turn key rifle.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Agree. Not trying to start worthless arguments neither.
Just to point out that the izhmash with nato/western ammo are much better accuracy wise. Quality of steel / hardening also above the average ak.
Of course certain work might not be possible for everyone but changing a stock or installing a comb raiser doesn't require much more than a screwdriver and tape or glue.
So for a ranch, go-beat-the-bushes type of carbine, is also a great investment. MSA also provides the adapter for the AR magazines for it wich is another plus imo.
Wolfspotter
9mm
To increase dependability, the Mini 14 is over gassed. You can buy smaller inside diameter gas bushings or do what I did, a 3/32 roll pin inside the existing bushing. Empties fall at my feet and accuracy was improved.
I understand there's an aftermarket gas assembly that's adjustable also.
I understand there's an aftermarket gas assembly that's adjustable also.